I am putting a new CPU in fairly soon (it is a Pentium IV @ 3.4GHz with HT technology) and it is an old fashion 478 socket. I am using Arctic Silver 5, I read the instructions on their website and they say to put a very small amount, the size of an uncooked rice grain. I also watched videos on YouTube of various people installing a new thermal compound. Now for my question, I see some people after cleaning the heat sink they put a dab of the thermal paste onto the heat sink, than use a plastic bag to rub it in, than they wipe it off. Others do not do anything with the heat sink. I know before I went overboard, I put on a fair amount on the CPU, than I put an equal amount on the heat sink, so they would joining together, but I guess that is wrong. So what do you prefer the plastic bag way, than wiping it off, or just leaving the heat sink alone and only apply the thermal paste to the CPU itself? Thank You, Jesse IBM ThinkCentre Pentium 4 HT 3.0GHz 4GB DDR Ram 750GB SATA II Drive Vista Ultimate

I personally put it on the HS myself. When I bought my 4200+ that came with a HS, it was on the HS as well. I'd imagine it wouldn't matter either way though. PC1: - Asus M2V-MX SE - Athlon 64 4200+ X2 @ 2.2GHz - 1GB DDR2 @ 667MHz - nVidia GeForce 8500GT 512MB OC @ 729/932MHz PC2: - Core2Duo Laptop/1GB DDR2

I always apply a bit of paste to a Q-tip and then paint my initials on the CPU. Adds that important personal touch. The heatsink then flattens it out. :-) The creme de la creme of Socket 939: Opty 185 @ 3.2GHz SLI'ed GTS-640s, both flashed to 625/1458/1950 4GB PC3200 Blu-Ray/HD-DVD, X-Fi A8N32-SLI Deluxe 3DMark06: 13896

When I applied thermal paste, I followed the manufacturer's instruction printed on the package, which says applying on HS. Henryhauw

check out this link http://www.arcticsilver.com/ins_rou...

If you "put on a fair amount on the CPU, than I put an equal amount on the heat sink", then you probably applied too much thermal paste. I prefer to put a small amount on rather than putting too much on and then having to use something, like a plastic bag, to wipe some off in addition to rubbing it in.

The "finger in a baggie" method was used for older CPUs with an exposed core. The method for CPUs with a heatspreader is to simply put a small dab in the middle of the CPU, then install the HSF. Don't spread the paste around, just leave it as a "dab". The pressure from locking down the heatsink will distribute the paste. "And that's the fishing line, because Sharkboy said so!"